Kalen Ballage
{{Short description|American football player (born 1995)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Kalen Ballage
| image = Kalen-Ballage-3.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Ballage with the Colorado Falcons in 2014
| current_team =Arlington Renegades
| number = 4
| position = Running back
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|12|22}}
| birth_place = Peyton, Colorado, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lb = 222
| high_school = Falcon (Falcon, Colorado)
| college = Arizona State (2014–2017)
| draftyear = 2018
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 131
| pastteams =
- Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2018}}–{{NFL Year|2019}})
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2020}})
- Los Angeles Chargers ({{NFL Year|2020}})
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2021}})
- San Antonio Brahmas ({{XFL Year|2023}})
- Arlington Renegades ({{UFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status =Active
| highlights =
| statleague = NFL
| statseason =
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Rushing yards
| statvalue1 = 665
| statlabel2 = Rushing average
| statvalue2 = 3.1
| statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 7
| statlabel4 = Receptions
| statvalue4 = 54
| statlabel5 = Receiving yards
| statvalue5 = 293
| statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue6 =
| pfr = BallKa00
}}
Kalen Ballage (born December 22, 1995) is an American professional football running back for the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils and was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft. He also played for the New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Los Angeles Chargers.
Early life
While attending Falcon High School in Falcon, Colorado, Ballage recorded a successful high school football career.{{Cite web |last=Nguyen |first=Joe |date=April 28, 2018 |title=Kalen Ballage, former Falcon High star, selected by Miami Dolphins in fourth round of NFL draft |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2018/04/28/kalen-ballage-miami-dolphins-nfl-draft/ |access-date=October 29, 2018 |website=The Denver Post |language=en-US}} In three years on varsity, he rushed for 2,690 yards, while averaging 8.5 yards per carry and scored 35 rushing touchdowns, in addition to 671 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Kalen Ballage – 2014 Football Roster |url=http://www.thesundevils.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2112 |access-date=June 14, 2017 |website=TheSunDevils.com}} Ballage was recruited by major programs, including Michigan, Washington, and Nebraska. He committed to Arizona State on January 17, 2013.{{Cite web |date=February 6, 2014 |title=Kalen Ballage – Football Recruiting – Player Profiles |url=http://www.espn.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/player/_/id/172756/kalen-ballage |access-date=June 14, 2017 |website=ESPN.com}}
College career
As a freshman in 2014, Ballage had a combined 202 rushing and receiving yards, to go along with four total touchdowns. During his sophomore year, he had the first 100-yard rushing performance of his career against the Oregon Ducks. As a junior, Ballage tied College Football's FBS single game touchdown record by scoring eight touchdowns against Texas Tech on September 10, 2016.{{Cite web |last=Sherman |first=Mitch |date=September 11, 2016 |title=ASU RB Ballage scores 8 TDs, ties NCAA record |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/17518391/arizona |access-date=March 5, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} During his junior year, Ballage played the quarterback position while the team was in their version of the wildcat offense, known to ASU fans as the Sparky Package.{{Cite web |last=Haller |first=Doug |date=November 3, 2016 |title=Arizona State's 'Sparky' formation grows through injury issues |url=http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ncaaf/asu/2016/11/03/...state...sparky.../93239096/ |access-date=June 14, 2017 |website=AZCentral}}{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Kaelen |date=September 11, 2016 |title=ASU Football: Why the "Sparky" formation was so effective |url=https://www.houseofsparky.com/2016/9/11/12877744/asu-football-kalen-ballage-touchdowns-richard-wilkins |access-date=March 5, 2023 |website=House of Sparky |language=en}} Ballage is known for his combination of speed and power.{{Cite web |last=Haller |first=Doug |date=November 19, 2015 |title=ASU's Kalen Ballage: Don't judge a back by his size |url=http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/territorial-cup/2015/11/19/asu-kalen-ballage-dont-judge-a-back-by-his-size/76072368/ |access-date=June 14, 2017 |website=AZCentral.com}}
=College statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | School ! rowspan="2" | Conf ! rowspan="2" | Class ! rowspan="2" | Pos ! rowspan="2" | G ! colspan="4" style="font-weight:bold;" | Rushing ! colspan="4" style="font-weight:bold;" | Receiving |
|---|
| Att
| Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2014
| Pac-12 | FR | RB | 11 | 42 | 126 | 3.0 | 3 | 6 | 64 | 10.7 | 1 |
| 2015
| Pac-12 | SO | RB | 10 | 125 | 653 | 5.2 | 4 | 12 | 60 | 5.0 | 0 |
| 2016
| Pac-12 | JR | RB | 12 | 126 | 536 | 4.3 | 14 | 44 | 469 | 10.7 | 1 |
| 2017
| Pac-12 | SR | RB | 13 | 157 | 669 | 4.3 | 6 | 20 | 91 | 4.6 | 0 |
| [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/kalen-ballage-1.html Career]
| Arizona State | colspan="3" | | 46 | 450 | 1,984 | 4.4 | 27 | 82 | 684 |8.3 | 2 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 1 1/2
| weight = 228
| dash = 4.46
| ten split = 1.54
| twenty split = 2.61
| shuttle = 4.35
| cone drill = 6.91
| vertical = 33.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 2
| bench = 15
| arm span = 32 3/4
| hand span = 9 1/2
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |title=Kalen Ballage Combine Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/kalen-ballage?id=32194241-4c60-8677-837d-5f12080d8f67 |access-date=March 25, 2020 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=130788&DraftYear=2018 |title=2018 Draft Scout Kalen Ballage, Arizona State NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |website=draftscout.com |access-date=May 8, 2022}}
}}
=Miami Dolphins=
Ballage was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round with the 131st overall pick of the 2018 NFL draft, using the fourth round pick previously acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles in a trade that sent Jay Ajayi to Philadelphia.{{Cite web |last=Nogle |first=Kevin |date=April 28, 2018 |title=Miami Dolphins 2018 draft results: Second 4th round selection has Miami adding Kalen Ballage |url=https://www.thephinsider.com/2018/4/28/17296212/miami-dolphins-2018-draft-results-second-4th-round-selection-has-miami-adding-kalen-ballage |access-date=June 23, 2018 |website=ThePhinsider.com}} In Week 4, against the New England Patriots, he made his NFL debut and recorded a three-yard rush in the 38–7 loss.{{Cite web |date=October 1, 2018 |title=Dolphins' Kalen Ballage: Active for first time Week 4 |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/dolphins-kalen-ballage-active-for-first-time-week-4/ |access-date=October 10, 2018 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}} In Week 15, against the Minnesota Vikings, he saw an expanded role with 12 carries for 123 yards and a touchdown.{{Cite web |title=Miami Dolphins at Minnesota Vikings – December 16th, 2018 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201812160min.htm |access-date=March 1, 2019 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Overall, he finished his rookie season with 191 rushing yards and a touchdown.{{Cite web |title=Kalen Ballage 2018 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BallKa00.htm |access-date=March 1, 2019 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
Ballage entered the 2019 season as the No. 2 running back behind Kenyan Drake. He was placed on injured reserve on December 3, 2019, with a leg injury.{{Cite web |date=December 3, 2019 |title=Dolphins Awarded Trevor Davis, Zach Zenner |url=https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/dolphins-awarded-trevor-davis-zach-zenner-kalen-ballage-injured-reserve |access-date=November 13, 2020 |website=MiamiDolphins.com}} He finished the season with 135 rushing yards and three touchdowns along with 14 catches for 63 yards through 12 games and six starts.{{Cite web |title=Kalen Ballage 2019 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BallKa00/gamelog/2019/ |access-date=January 14, 2020 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
On August 27, 2020, the Dolphins attempted to trade Ballage to the New York Jets for a 2021 conditional seventh-round draft pick,{{Cite web |last=Cimini |first=Rich |date=August 27, 2020 |title=Dolphins trade RB Kalen Ballage to AFC East rival Jets |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29753975/dolphins-trade-rb-kalen-ballage-rival-jets-source-says |access-date=November 13, 2020 |website=ESPN.com}} but the trade was voided three days later after he failed a physical with the Jets.{{Cite web |last=Cimini |first=Rich |date=August 30, 2020 |title=Jets void Kalen Ballage deal, lose La'Mical Perine to injury |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29774238/jets-void-kalen-ballage-deal-lose-lamical-perine-injury |access-date=August 31, 2020 |website=ESPN.com}} He was waived with an injury settlement on September 5, 2020.{{Cite web |date=September 5, 2020 |title=Dolphins Acquire Lynn Bowden, Make Roster Moves |url=https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/dolphins-acquire-lynn-bowden-make-roster-moves |access-date=November 13, 2020 |website=MiamiDolphins.com}}
=New York Jets=
On September 15, 2020, Ballage was signed by the New York Jets.{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Eric |date=September 16, 2020 |title=Jets Place RB Le'Veon Bell, WR Denzel Mims and ILB Blake Cashman on Injured Reserve |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-place-rb-le-veon-bell-wr-denzel-mims-and-ilb-blake-cashman-on-injured-reser |access-date=November 13, 2020 |website=NewYorkJets.com}} He was waived on October 5.{{Cite web |last=Greenberg |first=Ethan |date=October 5, 2020 |title=Jets Sign QB Mike White to Practice Squad, Release RB Kalen Ballage |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-qb-mike-white-to-practice-squad-release-rb-kalen-ballage |access-date=November 13, 2020 |website=NewYorkJets.com}}
=Los Angeles Chargers=
On October 9, 2020, Ballage was signed to the practice squad of the Los Angeles Chargers.{{Cite web |date=October 9, 2020 |title=Austin Ekeler Placed on Injured Reserve |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/austin-ekeler-on-injured-reserve |access-date=November 13, 2020 |website=Chargers.com}} He was elevated to the active roster on November 7 for the team's week 9 game against the Las Vegas Raiders, and reverted to the practice squad after the game.{{Cite web |date=November 7, 2020 |title=Los Angeles Chargers Make Roster Moves |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/chargers-make-roster-moves-nov7 |access-date=December 9, 2020 |website=Chargers.com}} He was promoted to the active roster on November 14.{{Cite web |date=November 14, 2020 |title=Los Angeles Chargers Sign Kalen Ballage to Active Roster; Place Justin Jackson on Injured Reserve |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/los-angeles-chargers-sign-kalen-ballage-place-justin-jackson-on-injured-reserve |access-date=December 20, 2020 |website=Chargers.com}} In the 2020 season, he appeared in 11 games, of which he started two. He finished with 91 carries for 303 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns to go along with 29 receptions for 166 receiving yards.{{Cite web |title=Kalen Ballage 2020 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BallKa00/gamelog/2020/ |access-date=March 5, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
=Pittsburgh Steelers=
Ballage signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers on March 30, 2021.{{Cite web |last=Varley |first=Teresa |date=March 30, 2021 |title=Steelers sign Ballage, Coward |url=https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-sign-ballage-coward |access-date=March 30, 2021 |website=Steelers.com}} He appeared in all 17 games in the 2021 season. He was used mainly in a special teams role.{{Cite web |title=Kalen Ballage 2021 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BallKa00/gamelog/2021/ |access-date=March 5, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
On November 2, 2022, the Indianapolis Colts hosted Ballage for a workout.{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Tony |date=November 2, 2022 |title=Colts Worked Out Four Running Backs |url=https://nfltraderumors.co/colts-worked-out-four-running-backs/ |access-date=March 5, 2023 |website=NFLTradeRumors.co |language=en-US}}
=San Antonio Brahmas=
Ballage was selected by the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL in the sixth round of the 2023 XFL Draft.{{Cite web |last=Gosling |first=Ryan |date=November 17, 2022 |title=XFL 2022 Draft Tracker: Live Draft Results and Rosters From Day 1 and Day 2 |url=https://www.profootballnetwork.com/xfl-2022-draft-tracker-results-and-rosters/ |access-date=March 5, 2023 |website=Pro Football Network}} He was placed on the team's reserve list on March 24, 2023.{{cite web |title=XFL Transactions |url=https://www.xfl.com/xfl-transactions |website=XFL.com |access-date=March 28, 2023 |archive-date=March 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316152142/https://www.xfl.com/xfl-transactions |url-status=dead }} He was removed from the roster on February 15, 2024.{{Cite web |title=San Antonio Brahmas Roster |url=https://www.theufl.com/teams/san-antonio/roster |access-date=February 15, 2024 |website=www.theufl.com |language=en}}
= Arlington Renegades =
On January 17, 2025, Ballage signed with the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League (UFL).{{Cite web |title=UFL Transactions |url=https://uflboard.com/ufl-transactions/ |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=UFLBoard.com |language=en-US}} During the Renegades Week 1 game against the San Antonio Brahmas, Ballage ran for a 77 yard touchdown, the longest in UFL history.{{cite web |last1=McCorkle |first1=Ross |title=Former Steelers RB Kalen Ballage Makes UFL History With 77-Yard Touchdown Run |url=https://steelersdepot.com/2025/03/former-steelers-rb-kalen-ballage-makes-ufl-history-with-77-yard-touchdown-run/ |website=Steelers Depot |access-date=27 April 2025}} He was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury on May 7, 2025.{{cite news |last=Larsen |first=James |title=Arlington Renegades Sign Tony Jones Jr., Lose Kalen Ballage |url=https://pfnewsroom.com/news/arlington-renegades-sign-tony-jones-jr-lose-kalen-ballage/ |website=PFNewsroom.com |date=May 8, 2025 |access-date=May 8, 2025}}
NFL career statistics
= Regular season =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Rushing ! colspan="5"| Receiving ! colspan="2"| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | |
| 2018 | MIA
| 12 || 0 || 36 || 191 || 5.3 || 75 || 1 || 9 || 56 || 6.2 || 31 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||
| 2019 | MIA
| 12 || 6 || 74 || 135 || 1.8 || 8 || 3 || 14 || 63 || 4.5 || 13 || 0 || 1 || 1 | |||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| 2020 | NYJ
| 3 || 0 || 3 || 13 || 4.3 || 5 || 0 || 9 || 67 || 7.4 || 21 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||
| LAC
| 8 || 2 || 88 || 290 || 3.3 || 17 || 3 || 20 || 99 || 5.0 || 16 || 0 || 1 || 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 2021 | PIT
| 17 || 0 || 12 || 36 || 3.0 || 13 || 0 || 2 || 8 || 4.0 || 6 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||
| colspan="2" | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BallKa00.htm Career] | 52 | 8 | 213 | 665 | 3.1 | 75 | 7 | 54 | 293 | 5.4 | 31 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
= Postseason =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Rushing ! colspan="5"| Receiving ! colspan="2"| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | |
| 2021 | PIT
| 1 || 0 || 4 || 13 || 3.3 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BallKa00/gamelog/post/ Career] | 1 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 3.3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
XFL/UFL career statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! rowspan="2"| League ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Rushing ! colspan="5"| Receiving | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{abbr|GP|Games played}} | {{abbr|GS|Games started}} | {{abbr|Att|Rushing attempts}} | {{abbr|Yds|Rushing yards}} | {{abbr|Avg|Yards per rushing attempt}} | {{abbr|Lng|Longest rushing attempt}} | {{abbr|TD|Rushing touchdowns}} | {{abbr|Rec|Receptions}} | {{abbr|Yds|Receiving yards}} | {{abbr|Avg|Yards per reception}} | {{abbr|Lng|Longest reception}} | {{abbr|TD|Receiving touchdowns}} | |
| 2023 | SA | XFL
| 5 || 5 || 55 || 149 || 2.7 || 16 || 0 || 11 || 82 || 7.5 || 12 || 0 | ||||||||||
| 2025 | ARL | UFL
| 6 || 5 || 65 || 306 || 4.7 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 77 || 2 || 10 || 46 || 4.6 || 15 || 0 | ||||||||||
| colspan="3"| [https://www.footballdb.com/players/kalen-ballage-ballaka02?src=search Career] | 11 | 10 | 120 | 455 | 3.8 | 77 | 2 | 21 | 128 | 6.1 | 15 | 0 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{footballstats|pfr=B/BallKa00|espn=3128774|nfl=kalen-ballage|yahoo=31100}}
- {{Twitter|polarcompound_7}}
- [http://thesundevils.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3939 Arizona State Sun Devils bio]
- {{IMDb name|8359103}}
{{Dolphins2018DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ballage, Kalen}}
Category:People from El Paso County, Colorado
Category:Players of American football from Colorado
Category:American football running backs
Category:Arizona State Sun Devils football players
Category:Arlington Renegades players
Category:Miami Dolphins players
Category:New York Jets players
Category:Los Angeles Chargers players
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:San Antonio Brahmas players